I am flying with China Eastern soon. Is it possible to earn Eastern Miles points on the outward journey and Qantas Frequent Flyer points on the return journey? Since the booking class of my outward flight is not eligible for QFF points.
Different Frequent Flyers for a Return Ticket?
emok on 03/07/2025 - 15:25
Comments
If you don't have any status in the FFPs, the safest way to is to retro-claim for the individual flights after they are both completed.
If you've already added the FFP number, it's usually possible to get it changed at check-in, even when the first flight was credited elsewhere.
However some FFPs are "sticky", as in once the FFP number is associated with your booking, it's almost impossible to remove it and credit to another program. (It may appear to be removed, but the points will go to the wrong place.) Miles&More and BA are examples of sticky programs, I don't know about Chinese airlines.
Also in theory it is possible to "uncredit" miles/points and then submit it for retro-credit to a different program. But this will take months of emails/phone calls/livechats and is not worth it unless the amount of points is substantial. In your specific case, I doubt China Eastern customer service will make it easy.
I've successfully done this before, but that was with two different China Eastern partners (QFF and Delta) - I suspect it may not work when you put a China Eastern frequent flyer number into the booking, as the number tends to be "sticky" in the booking when it's the airline's own program.
If you do want to try, just ask at check in for your frequent flyer number to be added/replaced. If they can't do it/if you end up using a check in kiosk, go to the duty manager desk (usually at the end of a check in row) and ask again.
Unless you're planning to fly a lot of China Eastern, all of this may not be worth your while - redemption rates are fairly high on China Eastern and points do expire, so your ability to use them for anything may be limited.
Did you add the frequent flyer at each check-in or claim the points after all flights completed?
I just did it at check in on that occasion. I have retro claimed before as well without registering a program number beforehand, and QFF processed/approved the claim almost instantly
In most cases you can only attribute one frequent flyer program per booking. I am assuming this is a return booking (both flights on the same itinerary), so probably not.
You could ask at the airport when you depart to associate your Eastern Miles and then try your luck at check in on the return, but I doubt it will be possible.